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After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start by taking a wicket on the very first ball of the match. With the breakthrough, Afridi joined Pakistan fast-bowling legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in a rare record as only the third captain in Pakistan history to dismiss a batter with the opening delivery in an ODI.

Lahore, June 2: Pakistan captain and pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi achieved a rare feat during the Pakistan vs Australia second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday. After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start by taking a wicket on the very first ball of the match. With the breakthrough, Afridi joined Pakistan fast-bowling legends Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in a rare record as only the third captain in Pakistan history to dismiss a batter with the opening delivery in an ODI.

Australia opener Alex Carey was dismissed for a first-ball duck after attempting to cut a short delivery from Afridi. The ball took an inside edge and crashed into the stumps, leaving Australia in trouble right at the start. The early wicket lifted the home crowd and gave Pakistan momentum in a crucial match of the series.

The feat had previously been achieved by Wasim Akram in 1993 against Zimbabwe in Karachi. Akram removed Andy Flower with the very first ball of the match.

Eight years later, Waqar Younis joined the list when he dismissed Marcus Trescothick on the opening ball of an ODI against England at Headingley in 2001. Afridi has now added his name to that elite group, 25 years after Waqar's achievement.